Donny’s Cafe

I do a solid amount of studying here at Donny’s. It’s always a solid go to place for me. The AC is on inside, coffee is great and Donny always says hi and talks with me for a bit. To me, customer service is a big deal. I always feel welcomed here and not like I’m just some crazy college student who stares at my book for 5 hours a day. Donny has even said how great it is That I’m getting an education. That gave me just that extra little push to slam out another hour of reading. So between my usual large Heaven’s Delight, the AC and the warm welcome I’d say it’s one of my favorite places in San Diego.

Cool place to pick up your coffee and go. It’s really busy on Saturdays but both persons working in there made it super worth it. The coffee is really good had me going for a while. I love that it opens early. The bagels are really fresh and good.

So i stopped in today for the first time, wanted a light, healthy, but YUMMY sandwhich. Which is hard to find. At let me say, im HOOOOKEED! ive lived in bonita for about a year now. And who would have ever thought this little gem was right around the corner ! Thank you Donnys!

I went in today and Donny told me that people have already added more credit to the Gift Card for veterans. Not to be outdone, I added more cash too! Please keep this movement going! Donny’s Café is a local business and clearly gives back to the community. Support Local Business, Enjoy Great Coffee and spread the LOVE!
Here’s a quick reminder about the value of being kind. I live in Bonita and drive by the Performance Bicycle shop almost everyday. I remember buying a 10 speed from them back when they were called Mission Cyclery. That was decades ago before I went to bootcamp.
There’s a coffee shop on the property now called, Donny’s Café. Today was my first visit ever. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and my espresso. I go to pay with my Navy FCU debit card. The barista, Samuel ask if I was a veteran. I give my standard answer, «that was many ‘pounds’ ago and I am out now.» Samuel says, «well, you are a veteran none the less and your money is no good here.» I give him the «WTF?» look. He explains that over the memorial weekend someone came into the coffee shop and bought a gift card. The customer made a simple request, «cover every veterans’ tab with this gift card until the money runs out.» Well now I become all emotional and teary eyed and I am sure that Samuel is thinking, «hey buddy it’s just a breakfast sandwich and coffee?»
I share with him my visit to Fort Rosecrans to pay my respects over the weekend. I talk about my little gesture of buying a Guinness for SGT MAJ Cottle and a round of drinks for a couple in his honor. I want him to know that what he is doing at the request of the anonymous customer reminds me that every deliberate act of kindness matters. It gives me hope that that the energy we project out into the world can be reciprocated. With a smile he says, «your welcome and thank you.» I say, «no thanks necessary, I am just doing my part.» More of that!
It’s payday this Friday and plan to go back to Donny’s. I intend to put more money on that Gift Card. I challenge you to stop by and ask for Donny or Samuel and do the same. «I DOUBLE-​DOG DARE you!»
Donny’s Café
3901 Bonita Road
Bonita, CA 91 902
So, today I remind anyone who is reading this:
Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.
— Plato

Best sandwiches and coffee around!!! And great people running it they truly care and appreciate every customer! I had a sandwich with double chicken amazing!!! It was huge!

By far (and I mean by far) the best coffee shop in the area. Donny, his wife, and the barista/​cyclist Jeremy are wonderful people. Of course the coffee and pastries are delicious, but what makes the shop are the people and this shop is made.

I can see why people love this place, it’s cozy and friendly. It looks like a nice place to chill. The sandwiches are delicious, the oatmeal is hearty and filling (peanut butter and banana), and the gelato (lemon!) is fab, but stay away if you enjoy a hot almond milk drink. Scorch city!
In my pursuit if a great almond milk latte in Chula I have tried this place a few times. Three times I have been burned (literally) by scorched lattes. So scorched that they had floaties in it. No foam. Not tasty.
Service is always on the spot. They have a great, friendly crew there. They open early, too, so it’s a good spot for early birds like myself.
It’s really not a bad place, I just like almond milk lattes and have high expectations for them. You can’t go wrong with Café Moto coffee though, it’s so robust, so I will stick to iced almond milk lattes when I come here.

Wonderful local spot! Always friendly service with a smile! I love the coffee, huge muffins and delicious sandwiches. Must try the Deluxe oatmeal after your workout routine. Super healthy! Enjoy

I’ve been wanting to find a local place that has more of a «small town» feel. This is it.
It’s the perfect place to co-​work, meet for coffee, or just grab a bite to go.
The people running the place were awesome. Efficient, genuinely kind and non-​pretentious. Very down to earth place. I loved it.

I like this place a lot. Coffee is really good. They have friendly service and it’s nice to stop for a small break and be around other roadies.
Can’t wait to eat their food and gelato.

Great service, great food, great atmosphere! Today was my first time here and my breakfast bagel and coffee were amazing, definitely will be coming back.

I absolutely love everything about Donny’s Café! To start with the husband and side duo are adorable and sooo damn amazing with their customers. They know everyone by name, love that intimate touch, can’t find that many places. What puts this place over the top is the amazing food! Their bagels, sandwiches and soups are all incredible! Everything is super fresh and tasty and for dessert, they have a gelato bar! I mean cannot get any better!!! Sure can, this spot is a hang out for cyclists and cops, so ladies come and get it. Hahah
If your in the area and want a fantastic meal come check out Donny’s!!!

Quaint little place, owner is super friendly, good food!

This place is a great place to stop by and enjoy your breakfast and coffee. It’s located near a bicycle store and many local cyclist launch and end there so there may be a bit of a cyclist crowd.

Thanks for the great service Donny! You fueled our morning ride yesterday and we couldn’t be more thankful and lucky to have you around. It was crazy busy yesterday morning. I had ordered the Mexican Mocha and man was it the best ever! I also had the bagel, egg & cheese sandwich. Get this, even though it was crazy busy… he even brought it out, into the parking lot, and served it personally himself as we prepared for our route recon of the upcoming Gran Fondo. Now that’s service! Mind blown! Thanks again Donny for going above and beyond!

I came here on an early Saturday afternoon, which is actually in the middle of my work week but I felt like I wanted a little treat before heading into work. It was quite busy and loud due to it being the weekend. I took it for the normal ambiance of a popular neighborhood café and didn’t mind. I ordered a custom sandwich and a blended Heaven’s Delight. I got my drink in a few minutes and waited on my sandwich inside the shop. I saw others being served their meals and had been waiting about 15 min w/​no update. Donny asked if I was waiting on a meal and realized either someone took my sandwich or it was never made. He quickly apologized, reconfirmed my order, made it and refunded my entire meal. I didn’t expect that, I know they were busy and perhaps I just had an unusual amount of patience that morning but I wasn’t upset whatsoever and appreciated their efforts after the fact. Thanks, Donny! I’ll be back.

This place is a little hidden Treasure! We had the Paisan or Paisano sandwich, it’s a sandwich with fresh Mozzarella, tomato and basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar… DELICIOUS!!! They serve it on rosemary bread but by the time I got there they were out so mine was on ciabatta which was just fine… BUT I will be back! My Mexican coffee was perfect… Now on to the Heavenly part, GILATO!!! Delicious, lip smacking GILATO!!! The Black Cherry is currently my favorite with the Spumoni a close second! I can’t wait to be back, the owner was super nice & helpful, he took his time explaining & suggesting items. I just loved listening to him speak French with another patron, did I mention this is a family owned VERY hospitable & welcoming place? Come by & try it for yourself, I promise you will NOT be disappointed!

The fiancé and I, after our second visit (first was almost as good) plan to make this place a regular stop when we get the chance (working nights makes us Not morning people). Fantastic service, The Gus is AMAZING, fiancé can’t get enough (neither can I), and we recently tried the Not Ruben Sandwich… it was a damn good simple sammich that hit the spot. More on the service for a moment, it was very refreshing having the owner regularly check in with us on the quality of our meal (I work fast food so I’m pretty understanding but this was above anf beyond: D). Give this local place (hidden gem!) a shot, you won’t be disappointed.

The house specialty oatmeal (including European oats, peanut butter, and bananas) is worth it’s weight in gold! Donny is a great guy!

I am a huge fan of smoked salmon, and I was especially thrilled that Donny’s offered some on the form of Lox over a warm bagel. I asked for the whole wheat bagel for my lox, including creamy cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, capers, and avocado slices for only $ 7. To wash it down, I had a 12 oz house drip coffee.
I was very pleased with no non sense lack of all the ingredients on the bagel. The smoked salmon was no doubt the star of the show, but all the rest had their part to play as well. The salmon was rich in flavor and had that soft buttery texture. Its smoky flavor was mid and salmon flavor terrific. The avocado slices were ripe and creamy and creamy the cream cheese was too. I liked the freshness and crispiness of the cucumbers and tomatoes which played well against the softness of the salmon and cheese.
The pickled capers were just right with their level of saltiness and sourness, but what I really liked was the toasted whole wheat bagel. I do not know where they get nor what brand they were, but they were quite good. Not only did they provide that great wheat flavor but nice crunch and soft moist texture inside. It was the perfect vessel for the lox.
The gents at the counter were down to earth friendly. They offer Wi-​Fi and comfortable seating inside and outside. Seriously, I would of never known of this place if it were not for Unilocal.
Godfather Approved.

I love having a good place to study with great food and drinks and most especially exceptional service. Donny’s Café gives just that and I am a very happy customer. On my to do list is trying all their soups, sandwiches and drinks. Check it out for yourself, you won’t regret it. Your new favorite chill spot!

The oatmeal, the bagels, the coffee, the Mexican hot chocolate, the atmosphere everything at Donnys is good. I’m becoming a regular, at this place. Food is always served in a timely manner. I just can’t get enough of Donny’s. You won’t be disappointed.

Donny’s Café rocks. Connected to the cycling world it shows races on the tv and is decked out with cool cycling memorabilia like vintage Tour de France images and race jerseys. At its heart it is a classic coffee shop offering a great selection of brews complimented with sandwiches, soups, smoothies and gelato! You can tell by the incredible service and liveliness of the joint that it’s a local community staple. The quiet patio has lots of chairs tables and comfortable couches for curling up with a book. Recommend «The Gus» smoothie named after the owners son, delicious.

Strong regular brew coffee for the coffee lovers out there. I particularly enjoy their Mexican mocha, the peanut butter oatmeal is so good, kind of like a dessert but not with overpowering calories. Their bagels are amazing as well! Very homey ambiance

Parking can be an issue on Saturday mornings. Good coffee, good food, good company. Nice little spot in Bonita. If you are a cycling enthusiast you probably already know about this place, if not you need to check it out.

Love Donnys, the best pick me up and definitely better then starbucks. .
We have been coming here for awhile and never a disappointment. Donny is such an amazing human being always great with his customers…

I tried Donny’s for the first time a few weeks ago and I think I’ve been back maybe 4 times since? Obviously I’m sold!
Donny’s is small, clean, and cute. There is local art on the walls (for sale) as well as memorabilia from Donny’s cycling career. You can tell this is a labor of love for Donny and his family who run the café.
I’ve ordered the build your own sandwich, the grilled cheese and soup, and the MSOB (Mean Streets of Bonita). All sandwiches are toasted with a panini press and are made from quality ingredients. I have only had the tomato soup, but it was perfect with a grilled cheese on a cold day. The MSOB is almond milk with chai and espresso and it is really good as well, the only hangup is that it congeals a little as it cools but that’s been my experience with chai in general.
Parking is convenient as it shares a parking lot with the bike shop.

Came by hear Monday for a breakfast with my wife and it didn’t disappoint. Place was cozy and the food was great. I’ll definitely come back for the great oatmeal. My wife also enjoyed her ciabatta chicken sandwich.

This is my 2^nd visit @ this establishment. Nice little local spot– coffee is on point.
«Why the 3 star rating?» — you ask
Well– this visit I ordered a bagel sandwich and coffee. There was a cute young, sweet girl working the cashier box and taking orders. She seemed like 10 or 11 years old-​had to have been someone’s daughter. I went to sit outside and wait for my breakfast. The sweet girl came by 3 times– first she asked if we ordered a bagel sandwich; second time she asked if we ordered eggs with our bagel; then the 3^rd time she told us they were out of our bagel selection. 20 minutes later– we got out bagel. I wonder if my order would’ve been correct the first time if a 10 yr old wasn’t taking orders and running the cash register. Yeah… I think twice now about coming here. 1 – 1

Food is delicious! We got a garlic bagel sandwich with egg cheese and turkey as well as a bagel with cream cheese and avocado. Drinks are amazing I got an iced green tea latte.
Definitely would recommend this place for a cute brunch date!

Opens at 5am!!! and closes at 5pm fruit parfait and everything else is delicious. stupendous service!
its just a happy armonious place to get your day started. from a full assortment of coffee, beagles, sandwiches and gelato.
Heart appealingly affordable so making this your regular place to begin your day will not break your bank.
the service… Simply put it feels like you are at a breakfast spa.

We all know I’m a Chula Vista girl and that I love me some caffecito. This place is not far from my humble abode and one hot Friday I had a hankering for something bad, icy and caffienated.
Donny’s was in my sights as I drove into the office after a meeting. This is only one of my visits, every one has been excellent but this one is most recent and made me fall in love with a plain old Mexi mocha all over again.
The couple who take care of you are sweet and I love how they interact with each other as well as the customers. When people are good to each other as well as to customers you know you’re in the right place.
The girl and I have had breakfast samidges that didn’t disappoint. But then how can bacon, cheese, egg and bread ever be bad! Thank you Donny’s for reminding me what a Mexican mocha is supposed to taste like and brightening up my day!
I’m going to have to go on a Monday so it doesn’t seem like such a rough week :)

Family owned for over 20 years…
Came here for the first time for some breakfast… A good size parking lot. Located next door to a bike shop, right across from Glenn Abbey cemetery.
Awesome outside patio seating… You walk in and there’s additional tables inside. You are greeted right away by Donny. He has such a kind and helpful demeanor, love it… He started off by himself, we walked in to any empty place, but followed immediately after by tons of people, all who appear to be regulars. He wife shows up later to help. (I came here a second time earlier today, and the place was busy with a constant line, and most tables filled. Again, most seem to be regulars who Donny knows by name. I love the atmosphere!)
Anyways, I’m lost in ordering, and Donny was super helpful in guiding me through the menu. Ultimately, I choose a plain bagel with turkey, egg, provolone, tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and cucumber. I opted to have no spread, but he went ahead and drizzled some balsamic glaze on top. DELICIOUS. The veggies were fresh. Bagel came out hot and toasted. Each ingredient complimented each other. Super filling! We also ordered a sesame bagel with cream cheese, tomato, and balsamic (recommended by Donny)… So good! I ordered an iced vanilla Thai, tasted just right.
I see people sitting and chatting. As if everyone knows each other. As well as people on the go.
While they mainly have bagels and sandwiches, they also offer gelato, and healthy options like oatmeal with fruit, and Greek yogurt with granola and berries.
A great, Great place. Relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Love it!

I can’t believe I’ve never walked into this coffee shop until now.
Wanting to wake up and battle the holiday heat, I dropped in to get a cold coffee and, based on other reviews, ordered the Heaven’s Delight on ice. Donny suggested I get it blended, which he said has been the best seller for 20 years. 20 years?! Have I really never been here before? As a small business supporter, I would have given this place frequent visits when I lived local. The other staff member in the shop was very knowledgeable about the menu items as well, so I ordered a muffin to go with my drink. The muffin was tasty, the coffee was delicious and cooling. They also had pastry samples at the register.
They accept cards, parking lot with the adjacent cycling shop, have outdoor patio seating, and have a loyalty program. Great service and quality that you would expect from a mom-​and-​pop shop. I will be back.

I love this little café!
Just needing a café that was opened at 6am to chill and grab some breakfast, Donny’s was close by with good ratings, so why not?
Now, I wouldn’t drive down to San Diego just to come here but if I lived around this would definitely be my regular go to coffee place.
Donny is super chill and friendly, knows ALL the locals names and knows them on a light personal basis.
I got the blueberry muffin, toasted. Good stuff.
And a trail blazer, green tea latte with a shot of espresso (and almond milk) — interesting but would be better if I just went with regular milk
Will definitely want to make this my go-​to café if I lived here.